f~ Gatent Application Eric C. Talaska for CUFF-ACTIVATED of INLINE SKATE BRAKING SYSTEM BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION This cuff-activated brake assembly relates to inline roller skates. BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Inline skates allow users great freedom of personal movement. The skates provide a nonpolluting and quiet means for transportation. The main factor for inline skating is a way in which to slow or stop skaters. This safety problem must be solved in order to allow inline skating to become a reputably safe as well as an enjoyable sport for those who like the outdoors, fitness and fun. The number-one question inline skaters have is: "How do I stop these things?" Inline skating is thrilling. But when you can't control your speed, the thrill can have detrimental consequences. The number-one cause of inline skate accidents is the inability to slow down or stop. Consequentially, many beginning inline skaters fall often and may lose interest in the sport, unable to attain braking proficiency. This has made many new skaters reluctant to use inline skates, store them away or return them for a refund. Inventing an effective and practical device for slowing and stopping skates has always been challenging. There is only a small amount of space to place skate brakes, unlike other vehicles where limited space is not a major concern. Inline skate brakes cannot protrude anywhere on the inside of the skate because it would scrape upon the ground during leg strokes and could easily interfere with the other skate. Many attempts have been made to market a skate brake that slows one or more skate wheels. This is the wrong approach. There is not enough wheel surface contact with the ground to brake effectively without quickly stripping the vulnerable wheels. When inline skate wheels are dragged sideways for a skilled "T-stop" the wheels wear quickly and unevenly. As a result, these expensive wheels must be replaced more often and more time is needed to change them. The most widely used skate brake is the standard heel brake. It requires the skater to shift the weight of the non-braking foot, thrust the braking foot forward, and glide on the opposite foot all while re-shifting body weight to the braking foot to engage the ground with the brake pad of the braking foot. Sound confusing? It is, especially in practice. It is like a golf swing. You have to do a lot of things right - au at once. According to Popular Mechanics Magazine, "this method has serious drawbacks and does nat deliver genuine stopping power." The required pivot arc forces the skater to jeopardize balance in order to apply the brake. If not precisely mastered, the skater will lose control and spin. Cuff-activated brakes are activated by thrusting the equipped skate forward and putting leg pressure against the cuff (upper portion) of the one skate. U.S. pat. no. 5,435,579 (1995) shows a typical cuff-activated skate brake. The brake pivots on the wheel frame when actuated. Because the brake is pivotably mounted on the wheel frame, a special axle bolt must be used that is long enough for mounting the brake frame on the wheel frame. This causes an inconvenience when changing or rotating wheels. Although this is an ingenious alternative to the standard heel brake, it has room for improvement ~------- - ----------- - - - - _------ - ----
and change. Parts can be consolidated for a more economical, simple and reliable system. _---- c-rr.s:-j}a_k no. J ~ne of the above inventions and patents, taken either in combination or singly, describes the instant cuff-activated brake and alternative embodiments claimed. OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my cuff-activated brake are: (a) to provide a skate braking system which requires minimum skills to attain, allowing the user to brake without raising any wheels; (b) to provide a skate braking system which does not interfere with wheel removal or replacement; (c) to provide a cuff-activated skate braking system which does not pivot on or at any of the skate's wheels; (d) to provide a skate braking system which does not require a long rear wheel axle and any protrusion to the inner side of the skate; (e) to provide a skate braking system which does not interfere with wheel frame removal or installation such as those used for quick wheel rotatation; (f) to provide a skate brake which is mechanically Simple, inexpensive and requires minimum maintenance; and Further objects, ac!lvantages and characteristics of the present cuff-activated brake will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description, illustrated only by way of non-limiting examples in accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a skate incorporating a typical prior art cuff-activated brake. FIG. 2 is a side view of a retracted brake device incorporated on a skate shoe and an actuator incorporated on the cuff. The cuff is not connected to the brake device. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a brake device removed from a skate. FIG. 4 is a side view of a brake device removed from the skate with lines to show how the brake device is connected to a skate. FIG. 5 is a side view of an extended (actuated) brake device incorporated on a skate. FIG. 6 is a exploded side view of a brake device's optional adjustment means. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a void (hole) incorporated on a skate designed to house a brake rod. FIG. 8 is a rear view of a brake device incorporated on a skate shoe. FIG. 9 is a side view of a brake device incorporated on a skate wheel frame. FIG. 10 is a side view of a non-pivoting brake device incorporated only on a skate cuff. FIG. 11 is a side view of a brake device slidingly incorporated into a skate shoe. FIG. 12 is a side view of a brake device rollingly incorporated on a skate shoe. FIG. 13 is a side view of a brake device rollingly incorporated on a skate wheel frame. FIG. 14 is a side view of a brake device incorporated on a skate shoe. FIG. 15 is a side view of a brake device incorporated on a skate frame. FIG. 16 is a side view of a brake device incorporated on a skate shoe. FIG. 17 is a side view of a braking device unmounted from a skate. FIG. 18 is a front or rear view of a braking device unmounted from a skate. REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
48 frame for roller pad 56 brake pad to rod connection 58 brake roller pad to rod connection 60 brake pad to rod connection 68 brake pad 69 brake roller pad 94 glide assembly with brake pad 98 brake assembly 102 brake assembly, roller glide type 102(A) brake assembly, roller glide type 110(A) brake assembly, roller pad type 112 brake assembly, shoe mounted, sliding type 125 cuff-activated brake assembly 130 cuff-activated brake member rod 132 cuff-activated brake mounting bolt 134 cuff-activated brake mounting nut 138 upper rod with dual adjusting bolts 140 lower rod with dual adj. bolts, pivoting 146 retracting compression spring 148 spring, normally compressed 160 shaft or protrusion for gliding rod 162 shaft or protrusion for gliding rod 164 bearings or rollers for gliding rod 242 axle pivot connection of rear wheel 248 hub bolt and nut 252 wheel, typical inline skate 262 frame member for wheels 272 rivet joint for cuff and shoe 282 cuff, typical inline skate 292 shell of shoe or boot, typical inline skate 292(A) shoe or boot, typical inline skate 361 inline skate with cuff-activated brake, typical 391 ground or skating surface SUMMARY A cuff-activated skate method and assembly which can be manufactured on skates to provide easy braking. A mechanically simple brake which does not movably mount on an wheel axje.- --.--~ DESCRIPTION - MAIN EMBODIMENT --.---~ The preferred embodiment of the present cuff-activated brake is illustrated in FIGS; 2 through 9. A typical inline skate 361 of FIG. 5 comprises a shoe or boot 292A which is composed of a quarter or cuff 282, surrounding the rear lateral region of the user's leg, articulated to a shell 292. A frame 262 is associated with the shell in a lower region and supports one or more wheels, designated by the reference numeral 252, which may be mutually aligned, as in the illustrated embodiment. Conventional fastening levers may be applied to the quarter 282 and shell 292.
-.: In the preferred embodiment, the brake frame is a light-weight rigid material. It is attached to the rear of the skate's shell. Brake pad 68 can any shape, size, form or composition so long as it fits securely to the brake frame 49 and can interact with friction against a skating surface. A preferred 1-AJrP~ brake pad should be made out of a vulcanized and hard "durometer" rubber intended for lv~ ~VV-~ 0 ground engagement. Due to the high ground clearance available, the brake pad is preferred to be as large as possible to last long and offer more surface braking:11le brake pad attachment 56 is a lock-nut and a bolt, but can be any other device for attaching brake pad securely. aill be appreciated that there can be other variations of the cuff-activated braking assembly shown here without departing from the spirit of the cuff-activated brake. The described embodiment is the most preferred embodiment of the inventor; however it should be clear that improvements are possible as more research, development, testing, and observation time all increase. OPERATION-MAIN EMBODIMENT The method and use of the present brake assembly of this cuff-activated brake will now be explained. The method and use of the invention is simple. The method includes using a brake assembly 102 to slow or stop the skate, with the assembly being cuffactivated by a rod 194 or extension so as to bring a brake pad 68 that is operatively connected to the carriage or frame member 49 into contact with the skating surface 391. This method permits the user to activate the brake without lifting or lowering the heel or toe of the skate. 6 The user should not attempt to accomplish higher speed braking until the user gets used to the new method. A special helmet designed for skating should be worn as it provides more back of the head protection than a bicycle helmet. Wrist gaurds should always be worn Furthermore, both activation and deactivation of the braking device is very simple, so as to allow to obtain a device which is structurally simple and easy to industrialize and can also be easily applied to known skates. It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that numerous changes and adaptations can be made that will make the brake operate differently. Naturally, the materials and the dimensions which constitute the individual component operation of the device of the present invention may be the most pertinent according the specific requirements. DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS Braking assemblies generally for foot-mounted wheeled vehicles are provided for roller skates 351, 361 and 364 of all figures. As such, skates 351, 361 and 364 can all utilize any of the braking devices throughout the drawing figures. A certain braking device shown in any figure does not limit its use on the particular skate shown. All figures show braking devices that can be mounted on most foot-mounted roller skates with a plurality of wheels or rollers. A cuff-activated brake assembly 125 mounted onto an inline skate 361 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A cuff-activated brake conversion rod and spring 106 shown in FIG. 4 attaches to cuff-activated brake assembly 125 with maximum simplicity. The cuffactivated brake is converted into a cuff-activated brake by detaching the cuff-activated
I.. brake rod from the skate's shoe. Then a bolt 132 and a nut 134 or any other bolt, cotter pin, etc. connects a device to the cuff-activated brake assembly's upper rod or the brake pad frame (no reference numeral shown). A spring 148 is attached anywhere on the rod 130 and onto a cuff 282 of skate 361. This simple conversion allows most cuff-activated brakes to be converted into cuff-activated brakes thereby allowing the brake assembly 125 to be used in a manner different than it was intended to be used. The operation is as follows: The user slides the equipped foot forward to activate brake assembly 125. The brake pad of brake assembly 125 is engaged with friction against the skating surface to slow or stop the skates. Shown is a retrofit roller glide type brake assembly 102 in FIG. 16. What is meant by a roller glide is a device that allows the rod to glide and roll along the back end of the skate when brake activation occurs. This roller glide assembly 102 consists of a wrap-around type frame 49 of a rigid material which can be deformed or molded to provide for the attachment of a set of lower rods, bars or frames 156L and 156R, a ground engaging brake pad 68, a brake pad attachment nut and a bolt 56, and a rod to brake frame pivot nut, bolt and spacer assembly 78. CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE Accordingly, the reader will see that the cuff-activated brake assembly can be used to stop a pair of skates safely, easily and effectively. Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the cuff-activated brake but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this cuff-activated brake. For example, the brake pads can have other shapes and forms; the brake pads can be made out of many materials such as rubber, plastic, nylon, etc.; merods can be circular, hollow, square, etc.; the brake pads can be placed in many locations and angles; the spring can be replaced by any other device for allowing the brake to retract and can be mounted in any operable location; the brake pad can be attached to a single rod, deleting any adjustment parts, pivot assemblies, etc. The invention having been disclosed, a number of additional uses and variations will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Whereas the invention is intended to encompass the foregoing preferred and alternative embodiments as well as a reasonable range of equivalents, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing discussion of examples, in order to assess the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed. Thus the scope of the cuff-activated brake should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow. 1. A cuff-activated brake assembly comprising: a rod device selected from the group of rods, levers and bars for providing pressure wherein said rod device is operatively mounted to; leg work or
a brake pad of a predetermined size and composition; whereby when said brake assembly is retrofitted or manufactured onto a foot-mounted skate, said skate comprising of a shoe, wheel frame, and a plurality of wheels operatively mounted onto said wheel frame, said skate can be slowed and stopped when a user applies leg pressure to said rod, resulting in said rod pushing said brake pad with friction upon a surface or ground of said skate. The brake assembly of claim 1, further including a frame member operatively mounted to said brake pad and a means for providing a pivot at the location said frame member operatively mounts to said vehicle at a predetermined location of said vehicle.. A method for accomplishing a self-energizing skate braking sytem comprising the steps of: (a) pivotably mounting said brake pad on the outer side of said skate (b) pivotably mounting cuff rod to brake pad frame CUFF-ACTIVATED BRAKE AND METHOD ABSTRACT A new cuff-activated brake device particularly for inline roller skates is disclosed. A brake pad contacts the skating surface during activation. The user need not lift any wheels off the ground for activation or deactivation.